Clamp for performing circumcisions on newborns and a method of using the same

Abstract

A circumcision device is a unitary combination comprised of a body, a conical bell over which the foreskin is disposed and into which the glans is inserted, a clamping ring, and a shaft coupled to the body and to one the bell is connected. The device is made from an injection-molded plastic so that there is no need for hinges due to the resiliency of plastic. The clamping ring is split and moves between an open and closed locked position. The bell is drawn up into the locked ring to clamp the foreskin. A handle is coupled to the device to position it. A handle is coupled to the shaft for moving the shaft relative to the body. A flange is connected to a collar on the shaft to drive the clamp down onto the bell with a push of the thumb. A plurality of skin clips is coupled to one of either the body or shaft and fixed relative to the bell for temporarily holding the foreskin in place against the bell.

1 . An apparatus for performing circumcision of a foreskin and adapted for unassisted use by a user comprising: 
 a body including a one-way releasable mechanism;    a conical bell over which the foreskin is disposed;    a clamping ring; and    a shaft coupled to the body and to one of either the bell or clamping ring for providing variable relative disposition between the bell and the clamping ring, the other one of the bell or clamping ring being coupled to the body by the one-way releasable mechanism, the clamping ring and bell being variably disposable relative to each other to provide for varying clearance between the clamping ring and bell to allow for clamping of the foreskin against the bell to achieve hemostasis, and where the body, bell, clamping ring and shaft comprise a unitary combination during use.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bell is coupled to the shaft, and the clamping ring is coupled to the body.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way releasable mechanism is one of a ratchet, threaded or sliding mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is directly coupled to the shaft, and the bell is movable.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bell is coupled to the shaft, and the body is moveable.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a handle coupled to the body to facilitate positioning of the bell with a single hand.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the shaft for moving the body relative to the shaft  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where the clamping ring is comprised of two semicircular clamps.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the clamping ring is comprised of two movable clamp arms, each coupled to one of the two semicircular clamps.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , where the two semicircular clamps include a catch for locking the two semicircular clamps together.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the body, bell, clamping ring and shaft combine to form a disposable combination.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the body, bell, clamping ring and shaft combine to form a nondisposable combination.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a collar coupled to the shaft for moving the clamping arms relative to the body.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange coupled to the collar to facilitate positioning of the body with a single hand.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft operates on a sliding ratchet assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding ratchet assembly allows for direct coupling between the bell and the shaft.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is made from an injection molded plastic.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is made from polycarbonate.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp arms are directly coupled to the collar.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping ring is comprised by resiliently flexing the movable clamp arms.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for performing circumcision of a foreskin and adapted for unassisted use by a user comprising: 
 a body;    a handle coupled to the body to facilitate positioning of the body with a single hand;    a pair of clamp arms coupled to the body by a one-way releasable mechanism;    a pair of semicircular clamps, each one of the pair of semicircular clamps coupled to one of the pair of clamp arms;    a shaft coupled to the body;    a handle coupled to the body for moving the shaft relative to the body; and    a conical bell coupled to the shaft over which the foreskin is disposed, where the shaft provides for variable disposition between the bell and the pair of semicircular clamps for varying clearance between the clamping ring and bell to allow for clamping of the foreskin against the bell to achieve hemostasis, and where the body, bell, clamping ring and shaft comprise a unitary combination during use.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , where relative movement of the shaft with respect to the body opens or closes the pair of arms to open or close the pair of semicircular clamps.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the one-way releasable mechanism is one of a ratchet, threaded or sliding mechanism.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , where the two semicircular clamps includes a catch for locking the two semicircular clamps together.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , where the body, bell, clamping ring and shaft combine to form a disposable combination.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , where the body, bell, clamping ring and shaft combine to form a nondisposable combination.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a collar coupled to the shaft for moving the clamping arms relative to the shaft.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a flange coupled to the collar to facilitate positioning of the body with a single hand.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the shaft operates on a sliding ratchet assembly.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the sliding ratchet assembly allows for direct coupling between the bell and the shaft.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is made from an injection molded plastic.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is made from polycarbonate.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the clamp arms are directly coupled to the collar.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the clamping ring is closed and opened by resiliently flexing the movable clamp arms.